so tell us, what can the average person do to sort of thwart against the realities of the fiscal cliff? >> my first tip is just relax. it's not going to be armageddon right off the bat. i mean, it is worth pointing out we hear the humongous figures like $500 billion in tax increases and stuff like that. most of those will not affect people until it's time to fill out the tax returns and won't happen until 2014. say the tax rates go up, the government is not going to automatically withhold more money from the paycheck and the tax rates can be in effect for most of the year. we hope they're not but congress could rescind them toward the end of the year and one thing to affect you is the payroll tax cut, two percentage points and spoebed to be temporary anyway. >> rick, one of the suggestions that you have, turn off the tv until congress reaches a deal. the media will find little else to talk about. the endless chatter creates the mistaken impression that the country is going down the drain. >> turn off all the other channels is what i meant. >> you leave the impression we're fearmongerin